Aortic rupture in lumbar discectomy: how the anesthesiologist can make a difference

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25751/rspa.21902

Keywords:

Aortic rupture, Vascular injury, Iatrogenic injury, Lumbar discectomy, Endovascular treatment

Abstract

Abdominal aortic rupture is a rare complication in lumbar discectomy, one of the most common procedures in neurosurgery. Although rare, knowledge of such possibility is crucial to prevent fatal consequences. We present a case of a 53-year-old woman, ASA III, with an abdominal aortic injury during lumbar discectomy. After anesthetic emergence, hemodynamic instability associated to a significant drop of hemoglobin made the senior anesthesiologist suspect of an iatrogenic vascular injury, which a computer tomography (CT) angiography later confirmed. The patient was promptly transferred to a vascular surgery operating room, where the hemorrhage was controlled by endovascular placement of a stent at the aortic rupture site.

A quick diagnosis is of the essence for such a serious complication and a multidisciplinary approach is essential to the successful management of these patients. 

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References

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Published

2021-11-30

How to Cite

Rodrigues, J., Morais, L., & Pereira, M. J. (2021). Aortic rupture in lumbar discectomy: how the anesthesiologist can make a difference. Journal of the Portuguese Society of Anesthesiology, 30(3). https://doi.org/10.25751/rspa.21902

Issue

Vol. 30 No. 3 (2021): Revista da Sociedade Portuguesa de Anestesiologia

Section

Case Report

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Copyright (c) 2021 Joana Filipa Gonçalves Rodrigues, Larissa Morais, Maria João Pereira

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